Social Sciences
How much do we really know about our psyches? How about the neighborhood teenagers, or young toddlers and babies? Violence has taken a turn for the worst in the last few decades—but does that affect newborns? They have yet to experience it, so what are they really thinking?
Social sciences (a.k.a. sociology) focuses on learning about how our minds work when we’re babies and how it changes until we’re senior citizens. Studies have proven that babies are very in tune with empathy; they will sympathize with others or play as long as their hearts desire with other happy children. If someone is physically hurting (like a migraine or being scalded by hot water) then the child will know. They study the faces and quirks of the people around them, like family and neighbors, so they can understand exactly how you feel—without you telling them.
Teenagers are often the same—although much more cautious. They’ve experienced enough to know that not everyone wants help or sympathy, and are more guarded towards their own feelings. We lose the abilities to study little quirks about the people around us that can hint at their thoughts as we grow older because talking becomes easier. Studying social sciences can help us regain some these abilities and make us more observant to habits like biting your nails or the corner of your lip, or twirling a ring or strand of hair that could signify that you’re nervous or upset.
More social sciences can be used for adults or the elderly. Everyone, no matter what age group, can also be affected by religion, work areas, sexuality, or gender. Abuse of any kind at any age, especially ones with only one digit, can drastically affect psyches and their outlook on life in general and others around them. If someone does poorly in school, skips classes frequently, gets suspended, or acts violent, it can all be explained by looking through social sciences of when they were a young child.
Everything we do, whether it’s an odd habit like being a pack rat or talking non-stop on the phone, has connections in our psyche that can affect our outlooks and moods on things. The happier start on life you got, the more cheerful you’ll be throughout the decades.